By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
April 3, 2009
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team fell behind 4-0 after three innings and found itself on the wrong end of a 14-9 decision despite scoring six times in the fifth on Friday, April 3, 2009. The Beavers fell to 8-13 overall and 3-6 in the Heartland Conference while the Ravens improve to 13-8 this season and 3-2 in the conference.
Anderson put together four runs in the first three innings and continued to increase its lead by scoring three more in the top of the fifth before Bluffton could come up with a response. In the bottom of the fifth inning, catcher Stephen Torres (Lima/Juan Diego) singled through the left side. A Raven throwing error allowed freshman outfielder Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) to take first and Torres to advance to second. After moving up on a balk, Torres raced to the plate on a fielder's choice to the shortstop. Mike Ramthun (Springfield/Southeastern) collected an RBI on his double to right center. A Corey Conn (London) groundout sent Ramthun to third.
Cody McPherson (Northwood/Millbury Lake) crushed the ball over the center field wall, a two-run shot that made it 7-4. Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) stepped up to the plate and ripped a double to center field. Sophomore third baseman Brett Howard (Toledo/St. Francis DeSales) followed with a towering blast that sailed down the right field line to cap a six-run inning for the Beavers.
The Ravens continued their assault on Bluffton's pitching with three runs in each of the next two innings to push their lead to 13-6 before the Beavers got back in the scoring column.
In the bottom of the seventh, McPherson doubled to right field. After a walk to Stephenson, both McPherson and Stephenson moved into scoring position on a Ravens' wild pitch. A Howard single resulted in McPherson crossing the plate and Stephenson taking third. Another wild pitch allowed Stephenson to scurry home, making it 13-8 in favor of the visitors.
Ramthun found a gap through the right side for a single with one out in the eighth. Corey Conn followed suit as Ramthun raced to third. A walk loaded the bases and Stephenson picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch, sending Ramthun home for the ninth and final run by the Beavers in the 14-9 Anderson victory.
Matt Perkins (Convoy/Crestview) fell to 2-2 on the year after giving up 10 runs on 13 hits in six innings. The Ravens also scored four runs with five hits off senior James Hausman (Milford). Sophomore Nathan Blanton (Cincinnati/LaSalle) finished off Anderson, going 1.1 innings while not allowing a hit or base on balls.
McPherson paced Bluffton with a double and home run as he went 3-for-4. Howard also finished with a home run and single to go along with his three RBI. Ramthun, Torres and Conn all chipped in with two hits.
Bluffton will host Anderson University for a series-concluding double header on Saturday, April 4. The first contest is slated for 1 p.m. at Memorial Field.
-BEAVERS-